fortify
/ˈfɔɹtəˌfaɪ/ verb C2- To give power, strength, or vigour to (oneself or someone, or to something); to strengthen.
- To support (one's or someone's opinion, statement, etc.) by producing evidence, etc.; to confirm, to corroborate.
- To increase the nutritional value of (food) by adding ingredients, especially minerals or vitamins. · Soy milk is often fortified with calcium.
- To impart fortitude or moral strength to (someone or their determination, or something); to encourage.
- To make (something) defensible against attack by hostile forces.
- To increase the defences of (an army, soldiers, etc.), or put (it or them) in a defensive position.
- To secure and strengthen (a place, its walls, etc.) by installing fortifications or other military works.
- To add spirits to (wine) to increase the alcohol content. · Sherry is made by fortifying wine.
Plural fortify · He/she/it fortifies · Past fortified · Past participle fortified · -ing form fortifying
Verb forms
- Base form
- fortify
- He/she/it
- fortifies
- Past
- fortified
- Past participle
- fortified
- -ing form
- fortifying
From the library
He has been fortifying you, his beloved child, against the fatal effects of the poison, which has failed because your system was already impregnated with it.
Andrea, who had often stayed there in his rides about Paris, recollected the Bell and Bottle inn; he turned around, saw the sign by the light of a reflected lamp, and having dismissed the child, giving him all the small coin he had about him, he began knocking at the door, very reasonably concluding that having now three or four hours before him he had best fortify himself against the fatigues of the morrow by a sound sleep and a good supper.
Compiègne, that royal residence and fortified town, is well furnished with authorities, gendarmes, and commissaries of police; they therefore began operations as soon as the telegraphic despatch arrived, and the Bell and Bottle being the best-known hotel in the town, they had naturally directed their first inquiries there.
“Certainly; it being at the same time perfectly understood that he should have been duly fortified against the poison to which he had not been accustomed.”
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